GenoSpec · Insights from Population Genomics to the Evolution of Host Specificity in Insect Fungi
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2015-11-16 → 2017-11-15
- EU contribution
- €173,076
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Insights from Population Genomics to the Evolution of Host Specificity in Insect Fungi
The project address the problematics of host-specific adaptation in Ophiocordyceps unilateral sensu lato, known as “zombie-ant” fungi. This fungal species complex is pathogenic specifically to ants and well known for its outstanding feature to manipulate the behaviour of the ant hosts in order to favour its own dispersion. Infected ants become erratic and climb into vegetation before fixing themselves to vegetal materials until death. This fungal complex encompasses multiple sibling species specialised to different ant species. The objectives of the Genospec project were to identify genes underlying host-specific adaptation in O. unilateral sensu lato by using the approach of population genomics. We have identified species-specific genes and genes under diversifying selection between closely related, host-specific species of O. unilateralis, and we found that these were enriched in pathogenesis functions, and mostly in heat-labile enterotoxins. Some entomopathogenic fungi are widely used as biocontrol agents in developing countries. However, their use is limited by the lack of knowledge on the evolution of virulence toward different host ranges. The knowledge gained from the Genospec project contributes to a better understanding of the host-specific adaptation in entomopathogenic fungi and could thus enhance the use of these organisms in organic farming.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
GenoSpec” aims at understanding the genomic processes underlying host adaptations of the ants-specific fungi from the species complex Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato by using a population genomics approach. This knowledge will contribute to the understanding of adaptive evolution, which is a major topic in evolutionary biology, and has potential applications in the development of fungal biological control agents against insect pests. Strains of O. unilateralis specific to three different ant species will be isolated from Thailand and their genomes will be sequenced, to identify the genomic changes involved in adaptation, e.g., the genes with signatures of positive selection or specific to particular hosts. Various sampling sites will allow inferences on the recent demographic history that could blur the footprint of positive selection. Dr. Noppol Kobmoo will bring his knowledge and skill on these particular fungi to enrich the expertise and the panel of biological models of the host institution (ESE laboratory, Université Paris-Sud, FRANCE) while gaining new expertise on population genetics at a genomic level. This project will start a fruitful collaboration between the host institution and BIOTEC (THAILAND) where the Fellow will return permanently after the project.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITE PARIS-SACLAY · Gif-Sur-YvetteCoordinatorFrance
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union